Steam iron

Abstract

A steam iron ( 10 ) comprising a soleplate ( 13 ), a heating element ( 14 ) for heating the soleplate ( 13 ), an inlet junction ( 16 ) comprising a first inlet ( 28 ) for receiving input steam from a steam generator and a second inlet ( 29 ), a water-steam separator ( 18 ) connected to the inlet junction ( 16 ) to receive steam from the inlet junction ( 16 ) and separate steam from condensed water entrained in the steam. The steam iron also includes an evaporation chamber ( 19 ) connected to the water-steam separator ( 18 ) to receive condensed water from the water-steam separator ( 18 ) and which includes a surface heated by the heating element ( 14 ) to generate evaporated water from the condensed water. The evaporation chamber ( 19 ) is connected to the second inlet ( 29 ). The inlet junction ( 16 ) comprises a venturi effect nozzle ( 31 ) for expelling the input steam and to generate a reduced pressure in the region of the second inlet ( 29 ) to draw the evaporated water into the inlet junction ( 16 ). The venturi nozzle ( 31 ) is disposed within an outer tube ( 32 ) of the inlet junction ( 16 ) and the second inlet ( 29 ) is positioned upstream of the end of the venturi nozzle ( 31 ) from which the input steam is expelled, with respect to the flow direction of the steam.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for heating the soleplate, an inlet junction comprising a first inlet for receiving input steam from a steam generator and a second inlet, a water-steam separator connected to the inlet junction to receive steam from the inlet junction and separate steam from condensed water entrained in the steam, an evaporation chamber connected to the water-steam separator to receive condensed water from the water-steam separator and including a surface heated by said heating element to generate evaporated water from said condensed water, the evaporation chamber being connected to the second inlet, wherein the inlet junction comprises a venturi effect nozzle for expelling said input steam and to generate a reduced pressure in the region of the second inlet to draw said evaporated water into the inlet junction, wherein the venturi nozzle is disposed within an outer tube of the inlet junction and the second inlet is positioned upstream of the end of the venturi nozzle from which the input steam is expelled, with respect to the flow direction of the steam. 
     
     
       2. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein an inlet duct fluidly connects an outlet of the outer tube to an inlet of the water-steam separator, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet duct and of the inlet of the water-steam separator are each greater than the cross-sectional area of the outlet of outer tube. 
     
     
       3. A steam iron according to  claim 2  wherein the water-steam separator comprises a steam outlet for dry steam to be supplied to steam vents formed in the soleplate, and a water outlet connected to the evaporation chamber. 
     
     
       4. A steam iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the steam outlet of the separator is greater than the cross-sectional area of an outlet of outer tube of the inlet junction. 
     
     
       5. A steam iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the total cross-sectional area of the steam vents in the soleplate is greater than the cross-sectional area of an outlet of outer tube of the inlet junction. 
     
     
       6. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein part of the evaporation chamber is defined by a surface of the soleplate. 
     
     
       7. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the second inlet of the inlet junction comprises a duct that extends into the evaporation chamber and terminates at a distal end which is spaced from an opposite surface of the evaporation chamber by a gap (G) of between 1 mm-4 mm. 
     
     
       8. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the evaporation chamber comprises a convoluted path between the water-steam separator and the second inlet of the inlet junction, defined by a plurality of upstanding walls from a surface of the evaporation chamber. 
     
     
       9. A steam iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstanding walls defining the convoluted path are formed integrally with the soleplate. 
     
     
       10. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the water-steam separator comprises a cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       11. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the soleplate has a mass of around 400 g. 
     
     
       12. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the mass of the steam iron is within the range of 650 g to 800 g. 
     
     
       13. A steam iron according to  claim 1  wherein the soleplate heating element has a power output of less than 500 W. 
     
     
       14. A steam iron according to  claim 1  further comprising a separate base unit comprising a steam generator including a water reservoir and a boiler, and a steam hose connecting the steam generator to the first inlet of the inlet junction, wherein the steam hose comprises a single duct for the supply of steam from the steam generator to the steam iron.